Improvement in machine foe shaping metals



@niteh'tstrs getest @ffice MORRIS WELLS, OF WILLIAMSBURG, YORK.

l Letters Patent No; 64,176, dated Albrl 23, 1867.

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TO ALL WHOM I T MAY CONCERN':

Be it known that I, MORRIS WELLS, of Williamsburg, in the county of Kings, and State of NewYork, have invented a new and improved Machine for Shaping Sheet Metal; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and useA the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figur'e 1 represents affront eleva-tion of this invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts. g

This invention relates to a machine for shaping sheet metal, in which the die, together with the bed supporting the same,`is raisedvagainst the clamp and plunger, the clamp being secured to a. cross-plate which bears against adjustable springs, whereby it is rendered yielding, and the plunger being secured to a cross-head to which a. rising and falling motion is imparted` by a crank in the same shaft, which also carries the cams or eccentrics which serve to impart the required motion to the die and bed supporting the-same. The clamp being secured to a yieldingplate is capable of accommodating itself to blanks of unequal thickness.

A represents aframe made of cast iron or any other suitable material of sufficient strength for the occasion.

The upper part of this frame forms the bearings for the shaft B, which serves to impart motion to the various working parts of my machine. In said shaft are mounted two cams or cccentrics C, which act on stra-ps D, and from the ends of these straps extend the rods a, from which the platform E is suspended. On this platform is secured the die F, and suitable strips, b, which are secured to the side-pieces of the frame A, serve as guides for the platform, to keep the same in its proper course, while it is moved up and down by the action of the cams C on the straps D. As the platform-E rises the die F is pressed up against the clamp G, which consists of a ring, the lower end of which fits into a circular recess in the top of the die and bears upon the blank placed into said recess, as shown in iig. 2 of the drawing, where the blank is indicated in red outlines, and said clamp is secured to'a cross-bar, H, which is secured to the side-pieces of the frame H by screws, c, passing through slots, so that said cross-bar is free to ris'e and fall within certain limits. Springs d bear on the upper surface of the cross'bar and render the same yielding, so tnat the clamp can adjust itself to blanks, being thicker on one side than on the other, or to blanks of different thick-ness. Said springs are made of India rubber, or other suitable material, and they are enclosed in tubes creases, e, which are provided with plungers,f, and regulating screws, g, so that the tension of the springs, or the pressure exerted by the same, on the cross-bar H, can be regulatedat pleasure. Through said cross-bar and through the clamp passes the punch I, which seri/esito depress the blank into the die and to bring the same in the desired shape. This punch is secured ,to a crosshead, J, which moves up and down on the guide-strips Z, and which connects by a link, K, with the crank L in the shaft B, so that by turning said shaft the desired rising and falling motion is imparted to the cross-'head and punch. The link K is fitted in between and connected to the crank and 'cross-head, so that itlis always in contact with both, and a. positive and powerful motion is imparted to the cross-head and to the punch in either direction. The crank L is placed in such relation to the cams that the blank placed in the recess of the die is firmly held between the clamp and die before the punch takes effect, und also duririg the time when the punch acts, and thereby the rim of the blank is prevented from wrinltling, land smooth and sound articles can be produced.

By this machine the operation of shaping articles Ofsheet metal of various kind is rendered comparatively easy, and by. supplying a number oflies, clamps, `and punches, which can be introduced in one and the same machine, a large variety of sheet-metal vessels or articles can be produced with little trouble or expense.

What I claim as new, and desire to' secure byVLette-rs Patent, is

1. The combination of springs Z with the cross-bar supporting the clamp G', substantially as and for the purpose described.`

2. The link K tted closely between the cross-head d and crank L, and operating in combination-With the Tie F and punch-I, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

MORRIS WELLS.

Witnesses:

HENRY B. Gener, FRED. Penses, Geo. L. Fox. 

